One of the towns in the southeastern part of the Tartarus Kingdom.
【Kudonalka】.
Repeated financial difficulties. Attacks by the Rebellious Tartar Kingdom Army.
The trade routes were destroyed by the Rebellious Tartar Kingdom Army, led by the descendants of traitors.
They unleash monsters onto the roads to stop the flow of people.
The residents of 【Kudonalka】 must take a long detour to the north or south to reach larger cities.
Adventurers and the guard corps, despite their efforts, cannot improve the current situation at all.
The higher-ups who oversee and manage the town decided to send a person with a noble title and negotiation skills to the neighboring town.
Rumor has it they were ambushed on the road.
“Are we being abandoned…?”
“Well, ma’am, please don’t say such ominous things.”
“My husband is working to put his life on the line today. Surely, the bandits who ambushed him were defeated!”
Washing accumulated laundry with well water and water from the reservoir containing〈Aqua Creation〉, scrubbing vigorously.
Washing laundry in the dark, they chatted to distract themselves.
However, the conversation turned to the town’s survival, and the atmosphere quickly darkened.
“Caw caw, caw caw.”
At that moment, the innocent voices of children, who didn’t understand the current situation, could be heard.
“The children are so lively♪”
“Indeed♪”
“…Child”
The only wife who had no experience with children unconsciously looked at her own stomach.
Perhaps, it might be that person’s child inside her.
The surrounding wives felt a slightly awkward atmosphere but encouraged her.
“Your husband will come home tired, won’t he?”
“If you serve him alcohol with dinner gently,”
” “You’ll surely be blessed with a child♪” ”
They washed the laundry together.
Suddenly, their hands went numb, they felt headaches and dizziness.
Probably due to the daily hard work, they didn’t make much of a fuss.
” ” “Finally, we’re done～～. Well then, see you later.” ” ”
Returning home, they prepared lunch.
The Craftsmen’s Street, where blacksmiths had pivoted their production from daily necessities to arms and armor, as they hadn’t been making them recently.
The rhythmic clang of iron hammers echoed through the street today as well.
“Hoo. Hey. Let’s take a break.”
” ” “Yes, boss.” ” ”
“Count the number of items needed for delivery.”
” ” “Yes.” ” ”
The master took a drink from the water pitcher.
“…Does it taste different? Or is it just my imagination.”
The water seemed to have a taste.
He thought he felt a refreshing sensation.
It must be his imagination. He took a break.
He rotated his shoulders to loosen his stiff muscles.
He also did leg stretches and waited idly, cross-legged, for his disciples to finish counting the items for delivery.
The remaining number of items for delivery was determined.
They ended their break and worked on making that number an hour past noon.
Clang, clang.
The guardhouse closest to Craftsmen’s Street, on the south side.
Nearly twenty guards were stationed there, examining the purpose and belongings of those visiting the town.
“It’s scarce today too, but we can’t let our guard down.”
“Lately, we’ve had people trying to poison themselves… ingesting slow-acting poisons to get in.”
“On top of that, we’re suffering from food shortages and sleep deprivation.”
“Ah, I’m so tired of those rebels.”
“I wish I could go to a brothel…”
“The shops are closed, you know.”
“Let us at least dream.”
“Well, it’s just the reality of things…”
The Rebellious Tartar Kingdom Army’s suicide attacks.
Even if there’s no problem with their purpose or belongings.
There are only a handful of people skilled enough to detect minuscule amounts of poison in their bodies.
Moreover, they are employed by the town authorities. They can’t be assigned to dangerous jobs like gatekeeping.
Until their lunch break, they engaged in the work of distinguishing ordinary citizens from rebels. He grumbled to his colleague, who was also confirming things.
“Hydrate. It’s still hot today.”
” “Yes, squad leader.” ”
Thus, in various places throughout the town.
McGillis secretly mixed poison… unaware that they were ingesting “Immaturity”.
The symptom is physical paralysis.
It’s unclear how much was mixed into the town’s water source, but it’s certain that it has been greatly diluted.
It will still be some time before a large number of people experience poor health, depending on individual differences, until symptoms appear.
They ate lunch without any incidents and spent their day as usual.
As evening approached, the symptoms appeared in the horses used by the merchants.
With a sudden whinny, the horses collapsed in the street.
Twitching and convulsing.
Foaming at the mouth. It wasn’t normal at all.
The drivers shouted to passing pedestrians, “A veterinarian! Quickly!?”
To prevent the horses from harming others, they kept people away.
“I’m a veterinarian. I’m a veterinarian. What happened to the horses?”
“Well…”
“…This is some kind of poison.”
“Poison!?”
The veterinarian examined the convulsing, foaming horses and inferred that they had ingested some kind of poison.
“Feed, water. Anything else?”
“Then, one of those two is likely to have contained poison.”
Horses that were obstructing traffic and carts were removed with the help of unharmed horses and empty carts.
The carts were taken to the shops where their goods would be unloaded, and the horses were taken to the veterinary hospital.
“Th-this is terrible…”
“Horses are collapsing in the middle of town…”
At the veterinary hospital, there were many owners of pets and horses with the same symptoms as the animals brought in, waiting for examination.
“Oh! Are you the doctor here? Please examine my horse.”
“I was here first!? My horse was first!”
“Dr.! Please examine my pet, Wan Wan Schneider.”
When the veterinarian appeared in such a situation.
The relatives of patients waiting in line behind them rushed forward.
“Waaah…”
The driver whose horse was examined was knocked aside by the crowd.
Among the crowd were those who had not brought pets or horses.
Pickpockets.
“Eek! How rude.”
“Sorry♪”
After animals, then humans.
The pickpockets discovered a victim who felt unwell in the street.
“What’s wrong!? Someone help!”
They might look kind, but their target is the money bag tied to their waist or hip.
“Hehehe.”
What a good day for a pickpocket.
A symptom of unknown cause.
If this is happening in the street.
Looking into a few houses with open shutters.
“Alright!”
The homeowner had lost consciousness on the floor.
It was an all-you-can-do situation for theft and robbery.
The soldiers were also stretched thin dealing with patients throughout the town.
“This should keep them quiet for a while♪”
A large amount of cash and goods.
The pickpocket retreated to their hideout, taking care not to be seen by anyone who was still well.
Without being noticed by fellow criminals or those in similar circumstances.
Hiding the large sum of money they had obtained, they pretended to be poor and got through the commotion.
“Are you back?”
“Yeah. No money today either. The whole town’s full of sick people. It’s better not to wander around.”
“Sick? Is it the work of outsiders?”
“Who knows. I’m hungry. I’m going to sleep now…”
“I-I see. Then, good night.”
“Good night…”
The pickpocket, thinking they had managed to deceive them.
He listened to their footsteps recede.
◇◇◇◇◇
On the south side of the town.
The gatekeepers, concerned about the commotion in town, waited impatiently for their colleagues who had gone to investigate to return.
“Hello～～♪”
” “Haa… Gahaaaa!” ”
A voice called out from the ceiling of the gate.
Thinking someone had come to the outer wall, but the words were strange. As they looked up, a sharp pain shot through their necks.
They were thrown to the ground (cobblestone pavement), and as they tried to get up, someone behind them…
” ” “Farewell～～♪” ” ”
” “Wh-what—?!” ” ”
Monsters (likely medium-sized monsters) clad in deep green, plant-woven light armor, with jet-black skin, and tongues visible in their blood-red eyes and mouths.
Before they could fully comprehend their shock, the gatekeepers (on duty) were gone, struck down by the blunt weapons wielded by the monsters.
“Now! The town is in chaos! Kill all these armored guys! Then all the comfy holes in this town will be ours—!!”
“Holes♪ Comfy holes♪!”
At McGinnis’s signal to charge, the sons of the Dark Tribe invaded 【Kudonalka】 from the South Gate.
“What are these guys—”
“Where did they come from—”
“What are the soldiers doing!?”
The black wave of the Dark Tribe engulfed pedestrians and the small number of resistance fighters (patrol soldiers, adventurers), killing only a few.
” ” “Waaaaah!” ” ”
“Kill those wearing armor♪ Kill those who attack! What about those who run…?”
McGinnis laughed heartily at the scene.
“Come, come! The King of the Underground Kingdom! Has come to conquer you～～♪”
Is this the aesthetic of a villain♪?
Should I join them too.
“Men aren’t needed.”
McGinnis slaughtered any man he found without weapons.
“Run away if you want. It’s fine to run away from town.”
The moment they turned their backs, they were cut down.
“Y-you coward—”
“Hahaha, that’s a compliment from a villain♪”
The great confusion on the south side spread to the center.
The town’s influential figures deployed their private soldiers to deal with the situation.
However, the patients suffering from “Immaturity” got in the way.
Each was defeated individually. Lured in and beaten.
Valuable combat power was annihilated along with the residents.
“What is the guard corps doing!?”
“It’s dangerous to peer out of the windows! Block the entrances!”
“Use tables and curtains to secure the doors! We need to buy time for resistance by laying siege!”
“What if bandits enter my mansion then!? My wife and young son are there! Hurry and let me return to my mansion!?”
“Calm down! For now, let’s cooperate…”
“Half of my private soldiers were defeated by the rebels! Forget about them! Hurry up and help me block the doors!? Someone lend me a hand! Help me move this sofa!”
Screams!!
Inside and outside the buildings, it was hectic and there weren’t enough hands.
The group of monsters, who appeared to be medium-sized black monsters, had infiltrated the town for unknown reasons.
Even that much information was not coming in.
Was there a traitor among the gate guards? Were the messengers delayed, or was it a surprise attack?
The influential figures acted according to what they believed was best.
